Ohio State is favored by over 20 points over a crumbling Penn State squad, but the real drama isn’t on the field. It’s circling the sidelines, and one familiar name just can’t stay out of the spotlight. Urban Meyer’s back in the Buckeye conversation after Ohio State’s latest announcement. But fans are wondering if their old general is about to make the most unexpected comeback in college football.

On October 28, The Ohio State Buckeyes dropped an update that serves as perfect tea for Urban Meyer’s coaching rumors. “THE Bell Ringer vs. Penn State will be none other than National Championship winning Hall of Fame Head Coach Urban Meyer 🏆🌰.” In a week when Penn State’s coaching search is already the hottest gossip on the market, Ohio State’s announcement hit hard. Fans went from wondering about Penn State’s next coach to asking if Ohio State just teased it themselves.

After all, Urban Meyer is the man who won three national titles, two at Florida and one at Ohio State, and left Columbus with a perfect 7-0 record against Michigan. That’s seven clean wins over the Wolverines, something Ryan Day has yet to accomplish. Since leaving the sidelines in 2018, he’s been living the broadcast life as a lead analyst for FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff and a respected voice on the Big Ten Network. But his recent schedule tells a different story.

Over the weekend, Urban Meyer was spotted meeting with Pennsylvania Senator Dave McCormick, discussing “leadership, teamwork, and serving something bigger than yourself.” It sounds noble enough until you remember there’s a pretty big football job open in Pennsylvania. Radio host Craig Carton didn’t mince words about the sighting. “Unless he’s handicapping Bucknell’s game this week, my gut is he’s talking to Penn State,” he said. 

Craig Carton doubled down, calling the Nittany Lions’ job “the most attractive opening in the land.” In his words, “Penn State needs to make a deal with the devil if they want to win a National Championship.” And if that devil wears a whistle and a smirk, you already know his name. Which brings us to the fans’ opinion.

Fans decode Urban Meyer and Ohio State’s action

When Ohio State announced Meyer as the honorary Bell Ringer, fans went feral online. “Ringing the bell for both his former and future team” a fan commented. Because why not? After all, if any school would want him, it’s his alma mater. The irony wasn’t lost on anyone. As one joked, “He is then announced as the next Head Coach at Penn State over the intercom. Ohio Stadium is appalled.” Urban Meyer might be ringing the bell for the very team he might soon try to beat.

Hopefully, OSU knows what it’s doing. Because for some fans, it felt like déjà vu from his Florida-to-Ohio State leap. “That’s gonna be awkward when he is named Penn State’s new head coach in December 😳” another wrote. For others, it was the ultimate college football plot twist.

Maybe this action finally drowns out the Penn State rumor? “This should put those rumors to rest 👀” another commented. Except it might not. 

Urban Meyer himself added more fuel recently when he dissected James Franklin’s firing. “When you fire a coach that his record was 104–45, was in the Rose Bowl, the Peach Bowl, and was a score away from playing for a National Championship,” he said. “I don’t think you make that move, with a $75 million expense coming, unless you know who you’re going to hire.” That comment, paired with his HC record of 187-32, somehow feels like foreshadowing.